MONROE - The Green County Garden Club recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Originally formed by Amy Salzberg of Albany and Jackie Bettinger of Dayton, the first meeting was at Jackie's former Monticello home, attended by approximately 30 people from around Green County. Today, the meetings are held March through November, the first Thursday of each month. The "home base" for the meetings is a conference room at the Zwingli Church in Monticello. At the outset of the year, the program committee meets to set up the year's schedule, working off of ideas generated from the gardening group. Speakers of various topics such as composting, designing potted plants, organic gardening, climbing perennials, cooking with herbs, etc., are invited and speak following a short club meeting. Refreshments are available. Meetings have also included a plant exchange every May at a member's home, followed by a potluck. Trips are taken to places such as Olbrich Botanical Garden and Allen Centennial Gardens in Madison, small greenhouses around Green County, and member garden tours including community garden tours.

The garden club has both male and female members, and anyone is encouraged to attend a meeting to get a feel for the group dynamic. Members include people from Albany, New Glarus, Monticello, Blanchardville, Argyle, Dayton and Monroe. Dues are $10 per year, and are spent on small scholarships donated to school aged children, community beautification and a little is left for the club's annual Christmas party. For more information regarding the Green County Garden Club, call Amy Salzberg in Albany at 862-2014.

Remaining meeting programs are (but subject to change):

August 6: Tour to Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Ill.

Sept 3: Discussion of produce harvesting and storage at the Zwingli Church.